From Fields To Festivals: Finding Balance, Self Identity, in Sports and Culture
Hannah Alise Cicilia Martinez
Hannah Alise Cicilia Martinez
“Pueblo of San Ildefonso Flag.” Infobase, Facts On File. American Indian History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=18626&itemid=WE43&iid=202431. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Pueblo of Santa Clara Flag.” Infobase, Facts On File. American Indian History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=18626&itemid=WE43&iid=202433. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Martinez, Hannah. "Santa Fe Railroad" 5/15/2026
In this article by Jeanete Armstrong, is about the difference between the Okanagan Veiws and Practices of the community. She speaks about not being able to be sepertated from her land and community. It also teaches that well-being is collective and actions coop by awareness. What I get out of this reading is to reconsider how they relate to others and the world like respect, advocate, and responsiblilty.
Armstrong Jeanette, "Sharing One Skin", https://feministfuturesea.wordpress.com//2020/1/09/jeanette-armstrong-sharing-one-skin/ 09 January 2020
Dogmo Studios, Eliza Wee, @ewee. (2018, June 28). Indian Boarding Schools - Gold Chains: The Hidden History of slavery in California | ACLU NorCal. ACLU of Northern CA. https://www.aclunc.org/sites/goldchains/explore/indian-boarding-schools.html
"And then I went to school"
This article about Joe Suina and his grandmother from Cochiti Pueblo surrounded by people who speak his language, value communal life, and maintain traditional practices. The school was structured for individualism for learning styles built for childern that are used to that system.
Suina Joe, "And then I went to school" , https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/and-then-i-went-to-school/ Rethinking Schools, 22 June 2024
This article is about a journalist, that argues about place names that are personal memories, ancestral teaching and mythic events. In the article talks about restoring Indigeniours names that can benefit both native and non-natice people. The reason why is by creating aricher understanding of landscapes. When they view the landscapes it brings a deeper meaning and connection.
Toastie B. , " How place names impact the way we see landscape", https://www.hen.org/issues/54-5/people-places-how-place-names-impact-the-way-we-see-landscape/, High Country News, 24 January 2024
Growing trend of Pasikifia athletes, particuarl those of Tongan and Somoan heritage. They choose to represent their ancestral nations in sports rather than the wealthier, top tier countries where they were born or currtaly live; such as New Zealand, Australia, or the United States. Yet it motivated by deeo cultural pride, family ties and collective identity.
---. “Cultural Pride: Exploring Indigenous Athlete Culture and Wellbeing.” MAI Journal a New Zealand Journal of Indigenous Scholarship, vol. 11, no. 1, Nov. 2022, pp. 79–85. https://doi.org/10.20507/maijournal.2022.11.1.7.
Explored the role of the contest powwows in maintaining and expressing Native culture. Traditionally powwows have been important cultural gatherings for indigenous peoples of North America, highlighting community and tradition rather than competition. While the dancers approach competition seriously, they continue to uphold traditional collective values.
Aicinena, S. J., & Ziyanak, S. (2021). Contest powwow: Sport and Native American culture.
The Qualitative Report, 26(1), 27-51. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4517
The importance of creating culturally safe spaces for Indigenous athletes within canadian sports. Thr author argues that maintaining connections to cultual and traditional practices is essential for Indigenous communites. These benefits are most profound when practiced in enviroments where individuals feel comfortable expressing their indentities.
Miles, Rosalin Maria, et al. “Reclaiming Indigenous Cultural Spaces in Sports: Building on Our Traditional Teachings.” Journal of Global Indigeneity., vol. 9, no. 1, Mar. 2025, https://doi.org/10.54760/001c.132183.
Explores how athletes develop, maintain and revise their athletic identity throughout their careers. It emphasizes that many athletes form a dominant athletic identity ealry in life because of the demands of competitive sports and the pursuit of elite performance. While a strong athletic identit can motivate success, and it may also limit personal growth. The study aims to provide a comprehensive framework to support healthy and continuios identity development within and outside of sports.
Chun Y, Wendling E, Sagas M. Identity Work in Athletes: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Sports (Basel). 2023 Oct 17;11(10):203. doi: 10.3390/sports11100203. PMID: 37888530; PMCID: PMC10611030.
Participation and Identity among Indigenous individuals and communities in Canada. It expands on that sports pplay important cultural role, promoting mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Literture and enviromental scanm the reseachers found that sports strengthen community connections and foster sense of belonging. Indigenious games helps individuals affirm their culutral identity and authenticity. Also a positive and accurate media representation of Indigenous athletes enhances collective pride and resilience.
Health & Fitness Journal of Canada .(n.d). http://healthandfitnesshournalofcanada.com/
“Riddu Riđđu Festival!” Visit Lyngenfjord, www.visit-lyngenfjord.com/culture-and-museum/riddu-riddu-festival.
The Riddu Riddu Festival is an annual event in Sapmi, Northern Norway that celebrates Sami and other indigenous cultures through sports, physical activities and outdoor tradtions. It highlights how these activites are not only recreational but also useful for expressing and encouraging indigenous identity, especially amoung childeren. By practicing in tradtional practices like tent making, bonfire cooking, cultural stories, and stregthening community bonds gives better understadning on where you come from.
Skogvang, Bente Ovedie. “Sámi Sports and Outdoor Life at the Indigenous Riddu Riđđu Festival.” Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning, vol. 21, no. 4, Nov. 2020, pp. 357–70. https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2020.1838934.
Whitebear, LaVerne. “Sharing Traditional Games With Dakota Youth.” Arts Midwest, 25 Feb. 2026, artsmidwest.org/stories/sharing-traditional-games-with-dakota-youth.
Traditional Indigenous games are represented in Canadian media and youth empowerment. It finds that both mainstream and Indigenous media represent these games as important for keeping culture alive and reclaiming Inddigenous youth. the auyhors argue that traditional games differ from modern sports, especially in their focuses on community and survival skills. Recognizing these differences is crucial for understanding their impact on self Identity and balance.
Website: http://jsfd.org. “Reviving Culture and Reclaiming Youth: Representations of Traditional Indigenous Games in Mainstream Canadian and Indigenous Media.” Journal of Sport for Development, 20 May 2024,
Tora, Iliesa. “Polynesian Pride: Track Star With Island Roots Driven by Family.” RNZ, 27 May 2025, www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/562298/polynesian-pride-track-star-with-island-roots-driven-by-family.
"Family first: The role of familt in Maori and Pasifika professional athlete success"
Explores how family is at success for Maori and Pasifika professional athletes, especially for sports like rugby. It explains that family gives these athletes strong support, help shape their identity and motivate them to do well. Phillip Borell shares stories from athletes to show that having close family ties help them handle challenges and pressures in their sports careers. Family is seen as more important in their lives than it often is in other cultures, like making a kep reason for their achievements.
Borell, P., & Enari, D. (2025). Family first: The role of family in Māori and Pasifika professional athlete success. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 60(4), 696-712.